The Peach Orchard at Shiloh

[OldReliable1862]

Charge Through the Peach Orchard by John Paul Strain
The Reverend Joseph Sherfy's peach orchard and the fighting that took place there is among the most famous of the whole battle. By contrast, it seems Sarah Bell's peach orchard at Shiloh is overshadowed by the fighting at the Hornet's Nest, among other locations.

I wanted to give this location a bit more focus, and try to figure out what happened and what units were involved in the fighting here.

 

[Ole Miss]

To give one a sense of how vast an area Sarah Bell's cotton field and orchard are I have post a couple pictures of them. The first photo is looking south east towards to the Hamburg-Purdy road with Mann's Battery, Company C, 1st Missouri Light Arttillery
Regards
David

This photo was taken from behind Harper's Mississippi Battery facing North with the Manse George cabin in the left From the Manse George cabin to the far right, all of this field was part of Sarah Bell's peach orchard and her cottonfield. Confederates had to advance into a wide open area of shot and shell with no cover

 

[OldReliable1862]

I've heard Maney's brigade plus the 19th Tennesee charged through the Peach Orchard, but the history of the 19th only seems to mention them passing through a cornfield. Does anyone know if they did?

 

[Ole Miss]

I have not seen any mention of the the 19th Tennessee and a corn field. I believe they were fighting near Gibson's Brigade then were ordered east to charge across Sarah Bells cotton and then forward into her Peach Orchard. If you dicover any additional information please post it.
Regards
David

 

[OldReliable1862]

I have not seen any mention of the the 19th Tennessee and a corn field. I believe they were fighting near Gibson's Brigade then were ordered east to charge across Sarah Bells cotton and then forward into her Peach Orchard. If you dicover any additional information please post it.
Regards
David

Quoting from John D. Fowler's Mountaineers in Gray:

"At 2:30 P.M., Maney began to move his troops forward. As the men of the Nineteenth crossed an open field, they could see their comrades in Statham's brigade falling back after a failed attempt to pierce the Federal defenses to the left of the Hornet's Nest."

Fowler then describes Maney's line opening their ranks to allow Deas' Alabama brigade to pass through after they were repulsed at the Hornet's Nest.

"Bearing left, the charging East Tennesseans crossed a cornfield and approached the Manse cabin...Storming the cabin and gaining the woods to the west of the field, near the Sunken Road, Maney's men came under the crossfire..."

 

[Ole Miss]

Thank you kindly for increasing my knowlege! I based my comments by lack of mentioning in the Official Records or any of the tablets in the Park.
Regards
David

 

[Sbc]

View attachment 338944
Charge Through the Peach Orchard by John Paul Strain
The Reverend Joseph Sherfy's peach orchard and the fighting that took place there is among the most famous of the whole battle. By contrast, it seems Sarah Bell's peach orchard at Shiloh is overshadowed by the fighting at the Hornet's Nest, among other locations.

I wanted to give this location a bit more focus, and try to figure out what happened and what units were involved in the fighting here.

Are there any peach trees remaining —cant remember.

 

[OldReliable1862]

It appears a moderator had to edit my post to properly credit John Paul Strain for the lovely artwork of Breckinridge charging through the Peach Orchard. Sorry!

 

[James N.]

Are there any peach trees remaining —cant remember.

Sorry for the quality of these two photos, but it was getting late in the day around 5pm by the time we got to the area back in June, 2018. According to a very helpful NPS Ranger we met there who had come to lock up the George Cabin for the day, disease has killed virtually all of the Peach Orchard's latest crop of trees planted there several years ago - the lone scraggly survivor can be seen in the above photo in middle distance above the sign. He said there are plans to replant it again, but no telling when that will be. These photos are taken from the opposite side of those above by @Ole Miss and are looking south from the position held by the Federals on both days.

 

[Sbc]

View attachment 339042

Sorry for the quality of these two photos, but it was getting late in the day around 5pm by the time we got to the area back in June, 2018. According to a very helpful NPS Ranger we met there who had come to lock up the George Cabin for the day, disease has killed virtually all of the Peach Orchard's latest crop of trees planted there several years ago - the lone scraggly survivor can be seen in the above photo in middle distance above the sign. He said there are plans to replant it again, but no telling when that will be. These photos are taken from the opposite side of those above by @Ole Miss and are looking south from the position held by the Federals on both days.

View attachment 339041

Thanks James

 

[mt155]

I took these last November. I have not visited in the spring or summer in a few years so I'm not sure how healthy the trees are.

 

[Ole Miss]

There are about 10 peach trees left if I remember correctly. The picture below is in the North East area of the peach orchard. The artillery in the backround is Mann's Battery "C" Missouri Light Artillery
Regards
David

`

 

[UCVRelics]

If you look at the painting you will see why we choose Spring for the Shiloh muster.

 

[Ole Miss]

James N. and @mt155 are both excellent photographers and I am so pleased each time they post there photos. CWT members are so blessed for the real excellents photos posted on the board from these 2 men as well as the other members share them with us.
Regards
David

 

[James N.]

I think it might be appropriate to mention that as disappointing as the disappearance of the peach trees is, NONE were witness trees nor even descendants of them - all had been planted postwar, likely no further back than the creation of the park.

 

[OldReliable1862]

I'm away from my books at the moment, does anyone know what units went through the Peach Orchard during the battle?

 

[Ole Miss]

Talking about passing through or fought in the Peach Orchard?
Regards
David

 

[OldReliable1862]

Talking about passing through or fought in the Peach Orchard?
Regards
David

There's some overlap on that, but I had meant those units that fought in the Peach Orchard.

 

[Ole Miss]

I am sending you the link which shows maps of the Peach Orchard and the Hornet's Nest as I am trying to watch all the Bowls I can.
The 1st map is on page 94 with additional maps next. Sorry for being so lazy.
Regards
David

https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Portals/7/educational-services/staff-rides/StaffRideHB_Shiloh.pdf

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

I think it might be appropriate to mention that as disappointing as the disappearance of the peach trees is, NONE were witness trees nor even descendants of them - all had been planted postwar, likely no further back than the creation of the park.

I was thinking how amazing it had to be that there'd be witness-peach trees? Ours get propped up, get all scraggly and finally split or fall over, like 10 to 20 years? BUT you could start a rumor... . " Yes, yes, this is THE tree under which.. ".

Question. When I first became smitten by the war. " The Peach Orchard " seemed to be referenced so frequently it was really, really confusing. How many battles had " The Peach Orchard "?